Electrical connection



Aug. l5, 1933. w. D. LINDsEY y v 1,922,544

ELEGTRICALCONNECTION Filed-.April 27, 1929 Y l is )1111 lll/1111111Patented Aug. 15, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION William D.Lindsey, South Orange, N. Lassignor to Garrison Fire Detecting System,Inc., New 'Yer-k, N. Y., a Corporation of Dela- Ware Application April27, 1929. Serial fNo. 358,473`

3 Claims. (Cl. 173-268) My invention relates to an electrical connectionor junction.

My invention, in one of its prominent phases, involves the utilizationof a medium, initially fluid, but subsequently hardening to positivelyand securely retain a cover in position about a region whereinelectrical conductors are con- `nected together.

Other objects, advantages and attributes of my invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing showing an example of one form of my invention.

My invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts of thecharacter hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the forms my apparatus or electricalconnection may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawinginwhich:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cable structure; l t

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in elevation, of ajunction box and is taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3 looking in thedirection ofthe arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and f Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse verticalsectional views, taken, respectively, on the lines 4 4 and 5-5 of Fig.2.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated cable structure of the generalcharacter disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 352,624, ledApril 5, 1929 and, therefore, comprising a core A lof suitableelectricity-conducting material adapted to become molten when thetemperature thereof is brought approximately to some predeterminedmagnitude. The core A is disposed within a tube B ofelectricity-conducting metallic material and having a longituinal slotb. Disposed around the tube B is a layer of insulating material Cimpregnated, if desired, with some substance adapted to become liquid ata temperature lower than the temperature at which the core A becomesmolten. A sleeve or sheath D surrounds the insulating layer C and isformed, preferably, by spirally winding a metallic tape on saidinsulating layer C. Encircling the sleeve D is a section E of suitablewaterproofing material, as rubber, having on its outer surface, ifdesired, a protective fabric layer F impregnated, if desired, withsuitable material rendering the Same acid or fume-proof.

As more particularly described in the aforesaid pending application,cable structure of the character described above is laid or disposed ina region where fire protection is desired, as the rooms of a building,for example. Then, upon occurrence of iire or abnormally hightemperature conditions, the core A becomes molten and a portion thereofpasses `through the insulating layer C and contacts withthe sleeve D tothereby comlplete or alter the characteristics of an electrical circuitof which the core A and tube B forms one side and of which the sleeve Dforms another side. Change in character of the aforesaid electricalcircuit may eiect any desired control, operate a signal, or functionotherwise as may be desirable.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 there i's illustrated a device forsplicing or connecting ends of cable structures S and S1 which may beand, in the example illustrated, are of the character described above inconnection with Fig. 1. As shown, said device comprises a base 1 carriedby a supporting surface 2 and formed from suitable insulating material,as hard rubber, a phenol condensation product, or the like. Base 1 has aplane upper surface, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, upon which clamps 3, 4 and 5 aredisposed in spaced, sideby-side relation. 'Ihese clamps are secured tothe base 1 in any suitable manner and, in the example shown, there isthus utilized a plurality ofscrews 6 for each clamp.

The clamps 3 and 5 are suitably connected together inelectricity-conducting relation and, for this purpose, there may beutilized a member 'I of substantially U-shaped conguration and suitablysecured at its opposite ends in contacting relation to the respectiveclamps 3 and 5, as by the same screws 6 that hold said clamps to thebase 1. The clamps 3 and 5 are formed or provided with openings ofsubstantially the same cross-sectional configuration for the receptionof and for direct engagement with the terminals of the sleeves D of therespective cable structures S and S1 after said sleeves D have beenexposed by removal of the outer sections E and F. As illustratedparticularly in Fig. 5, the aforesaid sleeves D are received between oneof the clamps and the adjacent leg of the connecting member 7.Accordingly, with the screw 6 fully threaded to the base member 1, therespective sleeves D are securely clamped in the position shown and theyare electrically connected one to the other through clamp 5, member 7and the clamp 3.

Between the Clamps 3 and 5 and in suitable spaced relation with respectthereto, the clamp 4 is suitably secured to the base member 1, as by ysatisfactory.

2 screws 6, or otherwise as may be desirable. As illustratedparticularly in Figs. 3 and 4, said clamp 4 is not secured directly tosaid base member l but indirectly through an intervening member or plate8 of suitable metallic material. The exposed ends of the cores A andtheir respective encircling tubes B extend between the clamp 4 and plate8; in this position, they are firmly and securely held when the screws 6for said clamp 4 are fully threaded into the base member l.

In the manner described above, there is provided a junction between endsof the cable structures Sand Sl, the respective sleeves D beingconnected together electrically and independently of the connection forthe lcores A and their respective tubes B. It is often necessary to thusutilize splicing arrangements for connecting ends of adjacent cablestructures together and it may, and often does happen, that the spliceoccurs on the ceiling or wall of a room, the good appearance of whichshould be preserved.

As hereinbefore stated, the sleeves D form one side of an electricalcircuit and the' cores A, together with their respective encirclingtubes B, form the other side of said electrical circuit. To the end thata re detecting system utilizing cable structure of the character hereindescribed may remain satisfactorily operative over long periods of time,it is necessary to prevent the entrance of moisture or corrosive agentsinteriorly of the cable, and particularly in the region where adjacentcable ends are connected together as described above.

Accordingly, and in accordance with my invention, the aforesaid junctionor connection is covered by a member G, preferably, receptacle-like inconfiguration and formed of suitable insulating material, as hardrubber, a phenol condensation product, or the like. As illustratedparticularly in Figs. 2 and 3, opposite side walls of the member G areprovided with perforations or opening through which the cable structuresS and Sl respectively extend. Moreover, said member G, preferablycomprises or. has inwardly extending lugs or abutments 9, 9 throughwhich, and the base member 1, extend screws 10, the latter, preferably,being threaded into the supporting surface 2, Fig. 4.

A cover member G, such as described above, improves the appearance andefficiency of the installation but, ordinarily, is insufficient toprevent access of moisture or other undesirable agents to the exposedconnections interiorly of said cover G and to exposed parts of the cableends. Accordingly, before assembly of the cover member G, it isdesirable that an insulating or sealing medium 11 be freely applied toand around the base member 1, to the clamps 3, 4 and 5, the member 'lconnecting the clamps 3 and 5, and to the ends or terminals of the cablestructures S and S1. Preferably, the aforesaid medium l1 is of fluid orfluid like consistency, when applied, but which shortly thereafterassumes a solid state without substantial change of temperature;accordingly,:there is no tendency for the core A to becomefrnolten suchas would be the case were hot insulating material utilized. A heavyacetone base lacquer has been found suitable for this purpose but,obviously, many other substances are Where the medium ll is one whichquickly solidies, as stated above, the cover member G should quickly beplaced in position after application, as aforesaid, of said medium 11.Accordingly, said medium 11, when it hardens, serves t0 retain the covermember G in its intended position as shown, for example, as in Fig. 4wherein the bottom sections of its vertical walls have beenpasseddownwardly around the base member l. The space between surfaces ofsaid base member 1 and the adjacent wall sections is lled with theaforesaid medium 11 to thereby effectually prevent the entrance ofmoisture or other agents interiorly of said cover member G along such apath. Moreover, particularly as illustrated in Fig. 3, said medium llfills the space around the cable structures S and S1 where the latterpass through the perforated walls of said cover member G.

Thus, in accordance with my invention, there is provided a constructionor an arrangement wherein the members forming or completing the sides ofthe electrical circuit, together with adjacent ends of the cablestructures, are hermetically sealed and, therefore, shielded orprotected from moisture, gas fumes, or other corrosive agents, thepresence of which interiorly of the'cover member G might cause corrosionof sulicient extent to form a short circuit and thereby falsely indicatethe presence ofre.

Moreover, with an arrangement of the character described above, thecover member G is secured in its intended position on the base member lin such manner that, ordinarily, it must be fractured or broken toremove the same even though the screws 10 have been detached previously.Accordingly,` any tampering with malicious intent is indicated,inevitably, by the presence of a fractured cover member G.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certainparticular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting' 115 from the spirit and scope of the invention and it isintended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be se- 1 cured by Letters Patentis: Y

1. In a junction box, the combination with a supporting member,electrical conductors terminating at one side of said member, and meansfor connecting said conductors together, of a receptacle-like coverreceiving said member and having openings through which said conductorsextend, and a medium covering `exposed surfaces of said first-namedmember, the terminals of said conductors and said conductor connectingmeans, said medium initially having a fluidlike consistency andthereafter hardening to permanently fasten the respective parts of thestructure together in their respective positions to exclude moisture andto make breakage of the structure necessary to open the box. .v

2.v In a Ajunction box, the combination with'a member of insulatingmaterial, electrical conductors terminating at one side of said member,and means carried by said member for'connect- 'ing said conductorstogether, of a cover for ments of the structure in their intendedposition whereby to prevent the entrance of moisture an make itnecessary to break the box to open it, said cover being secured to saidmember by said second named means after application ot said medium. y

3. In a junction box of the character described, an insulator base.conductorclamps mounted on the base, a plurality of insulated conductorssen cured to the base by the clamps, said conductors having bared endsthereof overlapping and clamped together, a cover for said base, clampsWILLIAM D. LINDSEY.

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